Platform and processor power management

Abstract

The present invention relates to platform power management.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A network device, comprising:
 a power management unit operable to execute a platform management routine; and   a network communication interface;   wherein the platform management routine causes the network device to enter a first low power mode in response to a first communication received over the network communication interface and to enter a second low power mode in response to a second communication received over the network communication interface, and   wherein the second low power mode consumes less power than the first low power mode and the second communication is operable to synchronize the network device's communications with a second network device over the network communication interface.   
     
     
         3 . The network device of  claim 2 , wherein the network device is operable to periodically transmit keep alive messages while operating in the first low power mode. 
     
     
         4 . The network device of  claim 3 , wherein a period for transmitting the keep alive messages is reconfigurable. 
     
     
         5 . The network device of  claim 2 , wherein the network device does not transmit keep alive messages while operating in the second low power mode. 
     
     
         6 . The network device of  claim 2 , wherein the first communication is based in part on a status of a buffer of a third network device. 
     
     
         7 . The network device of  claim 6 , wherein the second network device and third network device are different devices. 
     
     
         8 . The network device of  claim 2 , wherein the platform management routine causes the network device to enter the second low power mode further based on a latency of the network device. 
     
     
         9 . The network device of  claim 2 , wherein the first communication and the second communication are received wirelessly. 
     
     
         10 . A processor for use in a network device including a network communication interface, wherein:
 the processor is operable to cause the network device to enter a first low power mode in response to a first communication received over the network communication interface and to enter a second low power mode in response to a second communication received over the network communication interface, and   wherein the second low power mode consumes less power than the first low power mode and the processor is operable to synchronize the network device's communications with a second network device over the network communication interface based in part on the second communication.   
     
     
         11 . The processor of  claim 10 , wherein the network device is operable to periodically transmit keep alive messages while operating in the first low power mode. 
     
     
         12 . The processor of  claim 11 , wherein a period for transmitting the keep alive messages is reconfigurable. 
     
     
         13 . The processor of  claim 10 , wherein the network device does not transmit keep alive messages while operating in the second low power mode. 
     
     
         14 . The processor of  claim 10 , wherein the first communication is based in part on a status of a buffer of a third network device. 
     
     
         15 . The processor of  claim 14 , wherein the second network device and the third network device are different devices. 
     
     
         16 . The processor of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is operable to cause the network device to enter the second low power mode further based on a latency of the network device. 
     
     
         17 . The processor of  claim 10 , wherein the first communication and the second communication are received wirelessly. 
     
     
         18 . One or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media including machine-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 causing a network device to enter a first low power mode in response to a first communication received over a network communication interface of the network device;   causing the network device to enter a second low power mode in response to a second communication received over the network communication interface of the network device, wherein the second low power mode consumes less power than the first low power mode; and   synchronizing communications of the network device with a second network device over the network communication interface based in part on the second communication.   
     
     
         19 . The processor of  claim 18 , wherein the network device is operable to periodically transmit keep alive messages while operating in the first low power mode. 
     
     
         20 . The processor of  claim 19 , wherein a period for transmitting the keep alive messages is reconfigurable. 
     
     
         21 . The processor of  claim 18 , wherein the network device does not transmit keep alive messages while operating in the second low power mode. 
     
     
         22 . The processor of  claim 18 , wherein the first communication is based in part on a status of a buffer of a third network device. 
     
     
         23 . The processor of  claim 22 , wherein the second network device and the third network device are different devices. 
     
     
         24 . The processor of  claim 18 , wherein the machine-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to: cause the network device to enter the second low power mode further based on a latency of the network device. 
     
     
         25 . The processor of  claim 18 , wherein the first communication and the second communication are received wirelessly.